New York : a food list.
Ah, New York.
We came, we saw, we ate.
Then we ate some more.
Originally I had not intended to blog about our trip, hence the lack of relevant photos. This post is more of a personal reminder for me to revisit certain places I enjoyed so much during my two weeks there. Comments, suggestions (for future vacations) or opinions, most welcome.
Favourite Stores :
– Kalustyan’s – Home to every imaginable spice in existence, and more : Argan oil, pumpkin powder, candied fennel seeds, rhubarb bitters, molasses sugar, white honey.
– New York Cake – The ultimate baking supply store. I want to buy the entire store and call it my kitchen.
– Economy Candy – Sure, you can inhale a similar amount of sugar at Dylan’s Candy Bar but there’s something about Economy Candy’s sheer quantity of sweets and chocolates crammed into an impossibly small space that makes it feel extra special.
– Zabar’s – 20,000 square feet of yum.
– Strand Bookstore – If there’s any spare change left after the New York Cake purchase, I’d buy the Strand and call it my library.
(Special mention to Wholefoods)
Favourite Restaurants :
– Blue Hill at Stone Barns – Everyone seems to be jumping on the organic, sustainable and seasonal produce band wagon these days, but Dan Barber stands out amongst the crowd as someone who is truly putting these things into practice whilst delivering dishes with flavour and elegance.
– Le Benardin – Perfectly executed seafood dishes followed by balanced and thoughtful desserts by pastry chef Michael Laiskonis. Surprisingly not a restaurant that features on most of my friends’ eating radars.
– Momofuku Ssäm Bar – Pork buns, roasted rice cakes with spicy sausage, and afterwards, a quick visit to the Milk Bar next door for a sugar fix. Note to self : next time, must find 6 friends to have the bo ssäm with.
– Torrisi Italian Specialities – $50 for 4 courses showcasing amazing new Italian-American food. Don’t skip the devil’s chicken if it’s on the menu.
(Special mention to Chikalicious Dessert Bar, Caracas and Katz’s Deli)
Favourite Coffee :
(Note to self : going from 0 coffees a week to 7-8 cups is a very very bad idea).
– Zibetto
– La Colombe Torrefaction
– Stumptown at the Ace Hotel
Favourite Bakery :
– Shandaken Bake – If you happen to visit the New Amsterdam Market, look out for Craig Thompson’s gorgeous little stall selling the best ever apple pies and fruit tarts. According to season or whim, you may also be lucky enough to find other delicious treasures for sale, such as moist and nutty parsnip bread, made in the style of banana bread.
– Bouchon Bakery – For linzer cookies sprinkled with raspberry powder to temper their sweetness, chewy oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, and TKO, their version of the Oreo consisting of chocolate sable pastry sandwiched with white chocolate ganache.
– Baked – Home to Brookies (a delicious brownie cookie hybrid), salt and pepper cookies, and the best brownies.
– Babycakes NYC – Vegan, gluten-free and mostly organic baked goods that are a far cry from most vegan sweets I’ve tasted in the past. A visit with Aran to this bakery inspired me to finally buy their cookbook. Their caramel crunch donuts are only marginally surpassed by San Francisco’s Pepples Donuts (also vegan).
(Special mention to Liddabit Sweets’ apple cider caramels and pecan pie chocolate bar.)
Favourite Markets :
– New Amsterdam Market – For hot cider, Luke’s Lobster rolls, Porchetta sandwiches, Liddabit Sweets, and the best apple pie you’ll ever eat.
– Union Square Greenmarket – For more hot cider (because some people can’t seem to get enough of the stuff) and an amazing array of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Tags: bakery, coffee, market, New York, restaurant, Shandaken Bake
Caitlin said,
December 13, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
Oh, the bo ssam – totally wish we could have gotten that. And now I miss Zabar’s and The Strand. (Also, it was pretty kickass to jaunt about town with you for a couple days, in cause you were wondering 🙂 )
Ula said,
December 13, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
Have you been to Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery in LES? I like it more than Babycakes because they serve really good cupcakes for 1,50$ each instead of 3,50$ at Babycakes. The inside of SSSB is not as cool as Babycakes but still has a similar style and looks really nice:).
Siobhan said,
December 13, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your tips – I was so hoping you would!
Reemski said,
December 13, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
There’s a place I visited every day called Liquiteria that had hot apple cider with cayenne pepper and other goodies. i swear it kept me healthy the whole time I was there: http://www.yelp.com/biz/liquiteria-new-york-2
penny aka jeroxie said,
December 13, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
Great tips. Will have to check back in when we head to NY next year.
VeggieGirl said,
December 13, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
LOVE NYC!! Great food recap 🙂
VeggieGirl said,
December 13, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
LOVE NYC!!! Great food recap 🙂
Nisrien | Dinners & Dreams said,
December 13, 2010 @ 1:25 pm
Thanks so much for sharing this. I miss the one and only NYC!
Blue Penguin said,
December 13, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
Loved reading this, and seeing your tweets while you were away! I was just in NYC early in November, and overlapped with you on a few places (definitely Union Square) – although I’d have to say that the Chelsea Market (complete with Fat Witches, which I can’t stop rabbitting on about…), Ma Peche (and that crack pie at the Milk Bar) and Aquavit were some of the most memorable bits. Zabar’s is fabulous – I finally bought a set of US measuring cups, so no more swearing at online conversions half-way through a recipe. Next time you go, it’s worth paying a visit to Kitchen Arts & Letters on the upper east side – best cookbook shop *ever*! Sounds like you had a brilliant time…
Thip said,
December 13, 2010 @ 4:21 pm
It seemed like you had a great time in the US. 🙂
mina | sending postcards said,
December 13, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
I can’t believe I didn’t make it to even one of these spots. I did go to Momofuku Ko though, which was unusual and delicious. I’m saving this post for next time!
Betty @ The Hungry Girl said,
December 13, 2010 @ 6:07 pm
Oh, I loved NYC! I loved Katz’s Deli and also I had chicken & rice from a street truck on 6th & 53rd and that was one of the best meals that I had! Can’t wait to go back to NYC …. one day!
Rosa said,
December 13, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Wow, I’d love to see New York!
Cheers,
Rosa
the caked crusader said,
December 13, 2010 @ 8:05 pm
I love and hate you in equal measure for pointing me in the direction of the NY Cake website. I sense a large order in the offing……
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said,
December 13, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
*sigh* I’d love to go back to New York to eat and eat some more! 😀
Christy said,
December 13, 2010 @ 10:06 pm
If I can go to NY for ‘research’ next year, would you be my research assistant?
My Little Expat Kitchen said,
December 13, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
I’ve never been to NYC but I sure know where the hot spots are now 🙂 Thanks!
grace said,
December 14, 2010 @ 7:45 am
so you’re a coffee addict now? welcome to the club. 🙂
InTolerantChef said,
December 14, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
Sounds like so much fun. next time switch to de-caf, I promise I won’t tell!
christmas sweets said,
December 15, 2010 @ 2:34 am
thanks for sharing such amazing stores! you gave us good ideas for places to visit ny. glad u have a fun time in there. and dont worry the pics not being relevant because i think they are . thanks for the post! 🙂
steph (whisk/spoon) said,
December 15, 2010 @ 5:21 am
suggestion for your next nyc trip–e-mail me so we can meet for lunch! you hit all good spots (isn’t stone barns also the most gorgeous dining room??), and i will have to try those pies at the new amsterdam market. glad you had a great time!
Zita said,
December 15, 2010 @ 5:53 am
*Copying Alicia Keys* New york… 2 weeks? Major envy here… next destination after New Amsterdam why not my city… AMSTERDAM…so obvious, isn’t it? 😉
GourmetGetaways said,
December 15, 2010 @ 8:47 am
Wow!! That looks like a great holiday. I am hoping to go next year so I will be taking a walk in your footsteps 🙂
Helene said,
December 16, 2010 @ 9:26 am
We wanted to go for Christmas but we heard there is a infestation of beg bugs. So we are going to go this summer with our travel trailer. Thanks for the list.
cathy x. said,
December 16, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
hahaha “20,000 square feet of yum” i like the sound of that :P* …hot cider, pecan pie.. *drool*
anh said,
December 16, 2010 @ 1:37 pm
We all love NYC! 🙂
deeba said,
December 16, 2010 @ 1:56 pm
Yummy post. I love a holiday visit wrap. So much nostalgia and so much connect. 0-7 coffees? YAY … I need another cuppa just reading your delicious post.
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
December 17, 2010 @ 1:09 am
When you’ve bought your kitchen and library I’ll have to come and stickybeak. It sounds like you had a good trip.
shez said,
December 17, 2010 @ 8:32 pm
Welcome back! Looks like you’ve certainly lived the good life in New York – I’m making grand (if potentially unattainable) plans to visit next year, so will need to bookmark your memories for future reference 🙂
haribo sweets said,
December 18, 2010 @ 4:23 am
What a fun trip you had in New York. I love ogling at the pictures. Even if I can’t go there personally, at least I have your ‘from experience’ pictures to look at. I especially like the ones with the pastries. The breads all look mouthwatering.
Ellie (Almost Bourdain) said,
December 24, 2010 @ 1:22 pm
Bookmark for future reference. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your family, Y!
Jamie said,
December 25, 2010 @ 1:07 am
Wow that was some trip! But I have to say, I’d have to fight you over ownership of New York Cake! Great list and one I’ll print out and refer to next I get to NYC. Wishing you a very happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season, Y!
Aparna said,
December 27, 2010 @ 2:39 pm
Can see you did have a wonderful time. 🙂
Seasons greetings and best wishes for a happy new year.
Carolyn Jung said,
December 29, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
What a fabulous list, especially for someone like me who only gets to NY maybe once every other year. Believe you me, Le Bernardin is high on my must-do list the next time I go. Can’t wait to check out some of the other wonderful spots you’ve highlighted.
zenchef said,
December 29, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
I can be one of the six friends to share the bo ssäm with! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the city. You surely had some good eats!
justcooknyc said,
December 30, 2010 @ 9:47 am
it looks like you did really well. strangely enough i’ve never even heard of Shandaken Bake, which is weird because i have visited the New Amsterdam Market many times.
heidi leon said,
December 30, 2010 @ 2:24 pm
Well darling, thank God you were not prepared to blog about your NY trip!! (or else, you will leave nothing to write about to other bloggers..).
This almost personal reminder of yours will work just fine even for me (now, I need to start to mentalize a trip to NY..).
ps: I promise if you go again to NY I will set you up a desserts dinner with my pastry chef friend…
Shelby said,
January 1, 2011 @ 4:22 am
I lived in New York for 5 years and can’t thank you enough for this delightful post that brought back the most delicious memories of my time in the City that Never Sleeps! Happy New Year!
veron said,
January 5, 2011 @ 11:33 am
thanks for this list, I’ll remember this next time I go to new york. 🙂 I hear you about NYcakes – love that store! G
Su-yin said,
January 6, 2011 @ 8:02 am
Oh this is a fantastic list! R and I are hoping to go to NY in March, will bookmark this list for then!! 😀
Big Boys Oven said,
January 13, 2011 @ 6:39 am
so well written and informative!
USA's man said,
May 15, 2011 @ 9:19 pm
I love New York !
Teeh whiten said,
May 22, 2011 @ 11:32 pm
I can be one of the six friends to share the bo ssäm with! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the city. You surely had some good eats!
gayahidup said,
May 23, 2011 @ 12:13 am
i love the list, seems i have to try the coffee.
Pizza Porto Alegre said,
May 23, 2011 @ 10:01 am
I will be in NY very soon, and will follow all your tips !
Mladen Grujic said,
May 23, 2011 @ 7:02 pm
I have been at Momofuku Ssäm Bar and those buns are something greatest I have ever tasted! And let me tell you, get those friends, since Bo ssäm is even better!
Cheers mate 🙂
SoftBuz said,
June 2, 2011 @ 12:38 am
Oh this is a fantastic list! R and I are hoping to go to NY in March, will bookmark this list for then!! 😀
Machel said,
June 7, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
Wow a great list of things that I want to do in the future. It’s worth bookmarking. Thanks!
KopiahJo said,
June 11, 2011 @ 11:43 pm
I loved NYC!Love Food,You make me hungry 🙁
Nice post.Thanks alot 😀
KopiahJo
Archtop Guitars said,
June 29, 2011 @ 1:55 am
Looks like you had fun! I love Bouchon Bakery!